Melbourne, 9 July 2025 — The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in partnership with the University of Melbourne, successfully held the 5th Australia-Indonesia in Conversation (AIC) 2025. This year’s forum took place at the University of Melbourne, Australia, following its previous iteration hosted at FISIPOL UGM.
Carrying the theme “Bridging Development, Representation, and Indigenous Knowledge: Learning from Australia and Indonesia”, the forum brought together scholars and representatives of Indigenous communities to discuss critical issues at the intersection of social justice, sustainable development, and recognition of local knowledge.
“This theme reaffirms our commitment not only to building academic and knowledge-based collaboration, but also to ensuring our research can inform better policymaking and contribute to justice for society,” said Dr. Wawan Mas’udi, Dean of FISIPOL UGM, in his opening remarks.
The forum was officially opened in a hybrid format by institutional leaders including Prof. Jennifer Balint (Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne), Dr. Wawan Mas’udi (Dean, FISIPOL UGM), Dr. Siswo Pramono (Indonesian Ambassador to Australia), and Rod Brazier (Australian Ambassador to Indonesia).
Panel Discussions Highlight Indigenous Knowledge and Development
AIC 2025 featured two key panel sessions that explored crucial topics in the relationship between Indigenous communities and development, as well as the role of Indigenous knowledge in shaping public policy.
Panel 1, titled “Intersections of Development and Indigenous Representation”, addressed structural inequalities faced by Indigenous groups in both countries. Keynote speakers included James Blackwell (Australian National University) and Dr. Bahruddin (FISIPOL UGM), with responses from Prof. Poppy S. Winanti (FISIPOL UGM) and A/Prof. Edwin Jurriëns (University of Melbourne). The session was moderated by Dr. Ken Setiawan (University of Melbourne) and Dr. Randy Nandyatama (FISIPOL UGM).
Panel 2, titled “Research Directions on Indigenous Knowledge in Indonesia and Australia”, delved into the potential of local knowledge systems to address environmental, social, and cultural challenges. Speakers included:
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Dr. Justin Wejak (University of Melbourne)
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Nurabdiansyah (Universitas Negeri Makassar)
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Abdi Karya (artist and cultural program curator, Makassar)
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A/Prof. Kristen Smith (University of Melbourne)
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Dr. Fina Itriyati (FISIPOL UGM)
The session was jointly moderated by Dr. Samuel Curkpatrick, Prof. Aaron Corn (University of Melbourne), and Dr. Milda Pinem (FISIPOL UGM).
Both panels emphasized the importance of collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches in Indigenous research and highlighted the value of integrating Indigenous knowledge into inclusive and context-sensitive public policy.
Sustaining a Decade-Long Academic Partnership
For more than a decade, FISIPOL UGM and the University of Melbourne have maintained a strong academic partnership through joint research, knowledge exchange, and collaborative forums. AIC stands as a testament to the impact of this institutional synergy on both academia and broader communities.
“I extend my deepest appreciation to the dedicated teams from both institutions whose tireless efforts have made this collaboration flourish,” said Dr. Mas’udi. “In times of growing geopolitical tensions and challenges to global democracy, academic forums like AIC provide a vital path toward a more just, equitable, and sustainable future.”
About AIC
Australia-Indonesia in Conversation is an annual forum co-organized by FISIPOL UGM and the Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne since 2021. The initiative aims to deepen strategic dialogue and academic cooperation between Indonesia and Australia through discussions that unite scholars, practitioners, and communities on both sides.